How Do I Convert This Mercedes Vito Van?

[@MattYoung]

I'm excited for you Just. I am just putting the interior of my van back together, but I'm getting help doing that too, as I'm the least practical person that I know... unfortunately! Good luck pal.

[@ExplorerJust]

My last van turned out quite well and I loved whipping around the UK for work and adventures, but this van is different. The smaller size means that I have less room for error when it comes to making the right decisions. Watch this space! What van do you have?

[@ExplorerJust]

PS. Follow @Wandering Where in here... brilliant!

[@MattYoung]

@@ExplorerJust VW LT35

[@ExplorerJust]

@@MattYoung Nice van! Post pictures on your other socials and videos... share the love Dude!

[@AlBrooking]

Great video mate. I will keep an eye out for anything interesting which maybe of some help!

[@phil.clarke]

I hope you film the van conversion as I am planning one later this year. I like the lifting tailgate and please video as you build out your van so I can take inspiration!

[@ExplorerJust]

I'll give it a bash! I'm not great with video - I tend to 'do it' and then realise that I haven't recorded it! I will, at the very least, film the stages and talk through what I did

[@phil.clarke]

@@ExplorerJust I am similar - I go out on a hike with the best intention of filming and uploading to my KZbin channel. When I return home to edit I have ten minutes of film at the start and that's it as I just become too immersed in the outdoors.

[@ExplorerJust]

@@phil.clarke yep, I know that feeling only too well!

[@mikkimason4716]

hiya bud i`m in the same boat , i got a vito for 5nhalf and am slowly doin it up , ive done the deadoning and insulation and managed to get a slide out bed for just over 100, but my back gave out on me now its hard goin, i watched a ton of stuff on youtube and picked wat i like, there are certain subs i would point you to, but if your diy challenged you may struggle a bit, so call on your friends and family for aid, best of british to you

[@ExplorerJust]

I've converted a panel van before and it turned out quite well. It was a Renault Master medium base, high roof. I insulated it and then covered the interior with thing T&G cladding (quite a job!) which was given a stained finish. For the bed I turned to KZbin; struts resting (secured!) across the width of the van with boards on top provided a width-wise double bed. Underneath was split 'front and back', the front section being a space for a dog crate, and the rear being the 'garage' access through the rear doors. A ski-pole acted as a curtain rail where the bulkhead used to be, and old skis fasten to create a partial bulkhead behind the passenger seat with the boot bindings being uses as hangers for coats and dog leads. The shower was a 7.5 litre hand-pump pressure weed sprayer thing from a garden centre and I would stretch a shower curtain across the barn doors, securing it with magnets. And the (emergency only!) toilet was a bucket with a lid, lined with a bin bag with a shovel of cat litter. It looked great, but it was very basic; no sink, no cooker, no seating area no TV or electrics (light from battery powered switch things from the Pound Shop). Although it was basic, it gave me what I wanted in terms of available space for dogs, paddleboards, rucksacks and the like. The Vito, being far smaller, requires a bit more ingenuity to make it functional for me with regards to the space I need. A R&R bed take up too much space, so I'm looking at constructing a length-ways single bed with 'dog storage' (sounds wrong, but you'll know what I mean!) underneath. Alongside that may be a storage unit across the back with a pull-out kitchen. To make it work properly, anything in their has to be neat and well made... no pressure! Or I could sell it and buy a jeep and (another) tent!

[@vagelispapathanasiou9425]

Hello i like your video ,i wil start to convert my vito as camper ,did you finish your conversion on your van? Any tips can you give, please?thanks

[@ExplorerJust]

Hey! Thanks for dropping me a line. Since making the video the weather here has been ridiculously wet, so any free time I had on 'dry days' was usually spent on outdoor projects around the house (painting and the like).... in other words, no! I've come to realise that the van isn't the right vehicle for my needs right now, so over the next couple of weeks I'm going to insulate and finish the roof (I've already got the materials so may as well use them), then I'l sell it on. Tips... I've done a couple of van conversions before and my best 'tip' is to stop looking and start doing! Procrastination was easy when I was trying to do the first one - mostly based around indecision - but once I started it all came together really well. And if I can do it, anyone can!

[@mikkimason4716]

if i could figure out how to put some pics on here i`d show ye

[@ExplorerJust]

If you've done a Vito I'd be interested to see the pics. Do you have the on any other social media channel like Instagram or Twitter?

[@mikkimason4716]

sorry bud i came off social media because it just made me so angry about keyboard warriors, and so called friends that you aint never met. i am on messenger though and watsapp but dunno how to put that on here without more keyboard warriors or scammers gettin it @@ExplorerJust

[@mikkimason4716]

i could email then to you

[@mikkimason4716]

if you set up a temp email with google then delete it afterwards

[@ExplorerJust]

@@mikkimason4716 Thank you. If you drop in on my website you can email me direct from there justforthechallenge.com

[@jorvikangler]

All I know about van conversions is from videos ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpjCeJiHh52ZgNE ), but I do know drain pipe attached to the wall or ceiling is great for protecting fishing rods.

[@ExplorerJust]

Brilliant clip! Yep, someone else mentioned a 'pipe-thing', but a lockable one on the roof. I'd rather have my rods inside as you've suggested... I don't think I'd sleep otherwise!

[@jorvikangler]

@@ExplorerJust Yep, the ones in his van are locked.

[@simonwilliams8980]

Have you done anymore yet?

[@ExplorerJust]

Hey! Thanks for dropping in. I did a little more to it, but rain stopped play (we've had A LOT of rain here in Wales!). Now the rain has stopped for a while it's a kind-of race between all of the things that I want to do outside...

[@mikkimason4716]

i`ll do a short vid of what it looks like now and send it to ye

[@ExplorerJust]

Thanks, I'll look forward to it